UIC Pavilion, Chicago - Rising light heavyweight star Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9KOs) continued his fast track to a title shot with seventh round knockout of of late replacement Alexander Johnson (16-3, 7KOs)
A very cautious start by Johnson, who stayed at a distance and was always moving back. Beterbiev applied the pressure early and was picking his spots while feeling his opponent out.
Beterbiev picked up the pace in the second round, doubling up the activity and letting his hands go. Johnson was mostly on the defensive while weathering the storm.
Johnson started landing a good left hand to back Beterbiev up in the third round. Beterbiev took his foot off the gas for a moment to allow Johnson to lead. Beterbiev went back to work in the fourth, landing very hard shots to the head and body when pressing Johnson against the ropes.
The fifth round was something new for Beterbiev, who stopped all of his previous opponents in four rounds or less. Beterbiev scored a flash knockdown with a stiff jab in the middle of the round and he was very active with throwing hard bombs all over Johnson's head and body. A second knockdown was scored when Johnson was cracked by a hard uppercut and fell back against the ropes. This time he was very hurt. Johnson took punishment until the bell and the referee came close to stopping it.
Before the start of the sixth, Johnson's corner threatened to stop the fight due to the punishment he had taken in the fifth. He had a bit of luck as Beterbiev had control of the sixth but took the round off in terms of activity.
During the seventh, Beterviev scored another knockdown with a quick left hand. A moment later Beterbiev landed a crushing left hook to the temple that crumpled Johnson to the mat for the fourth knockdown of the bout, and the referee quickly jumped in to wave off the fight with Johnson down on his back.
